Welcome to Hit Parade, a podcast of Pop Chart History from Slate Magazine, about the hits from

coast to coast. I'm Chris Malanfi, chart analyst, pop critic, and writer of Slate Magazine about the hits from coast to coast.

I'm Chris Malanfi, chart analyst, pop critic, and writer of Slate's Why Is This Song Number One series on today's show.

In mid-July, here in New York City, Jay-Z played a three-night stand at Yankee Stadium.

It was a victory lap for his career. The first of the

three nights celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. See me got the US

Open, advantage jigger, serve like Sanfras, play fake rappers like a campus, Tegra, son, you're too

eager. You ain't having it good me either

Let's get together and make this whole world

The Second Night celebrated the 25th anniversary

of his acclaimed 2001 album

The Blueprint

Girls Girls Girls I do adore

Yo put your number on his paper Because I would love to date you, holler at you when I come off talk.

And the third night, a rather chaotic show that started after midnight,

thanks to fans rushing the stadium, surveyed the whole of Jay-Z's career and his many hits.

What was notable about the shows was the number of guests Jay had on stage.

Those guests included Tiana Taylor, Usher, Rihanna, Forel Williams, and, of course, Jay's wife, Beyonce.

Rock you know!

If I do say so, I do say so, my son. If I do say so, myself, if I do say so myself, if I Sure, it was a victory lap for a rap king, but it was also emblematic of Jay's career. He likes to collaborate. Smart collaborations are,

you might argue, the secret to Jay-Z's success. Jay-Z earned respect and cred from hip-hop heads

for his intricate bars, but he was always unafraid to cross over,

...